Two Punjab power plants short of required coal stock

PATIALA: Authorities in Punjab are scrambling to keep control of power situation after agitation by former Jharkhand chief minister Babulal Marandi in Pakur district of his state for rehabilitation of people affected by coal mines hit coal supply to thermal power plants. Out of three thermal power plants being run by PSPCL, only one has mandatory coal stock of one month while remaining two are in critical and super critical situation due to lack of coal stock.

Norms mandate that every plant must have coal stock of at least one month, but in Punjab only Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant in Bathinda has coal stock of more than two months while Gobind Singh Super Thermal plant in Ropar has stock for just 16 days and is in critical category while Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant in Lehra Mohabat has 13 days coal stock and is in super critical category. Sources informed that Punjab receives coal from Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.

"Since demand has come down to 883 lakh units (LU) and we have 936 LUs available, we don't see any immediate impact. Jharkhand contributes only 30% coal to PSPCL. We are taking all steps to deal with the situation if supply worsens in the coming days," said spokesman of PSPCL.

Details of coal stocks show that Bathinda plant has total 1,06,607 metric tonne (MT) coal and it consumes around 308 MT coal daily to generate 440 MW power, Ropar super plant has total 2,90,187 MT coal and it consumes 15,914 MT to generate total 1,260 MW power while Lehra Mohabat plant has 1,78,747 MT coal and consumes around 10,096 MT to generate 920 MW power.

Some officers working in generation of power in PSPCL said they have been keeping a close eye on the developments in Jharkhand and have plans to increase their hydel generation and reduce the supply of power to other states if circumstances demand so in the coming days.

On Friday, PSPCL authorities did not receive any coal at Bathinda plant as it already has sufficient stock of coal and shifted the stock of 8218 MT to Lehra Mohabat plant while Ropar plant received 19,118 MT coal on Friday.

"We have our tabs in place. Presently there is no reason to worry as the demand for power is low. We would take steps in the coming days as per requirement," said director, distribution, Gurbachan Chhabra.